L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano S u f f e r i n g f r o m i n s o m n i a i s , sometimes, not a b a d t h i n g . I r e c e n t l y h a d a b o u t o f i t a n d e n d e d u p spending late nights reading and surfing the web. That's how I came across an inter- e s t i n g a r t i c l e p u b l i s h e d by Meseuro on their web- page, about lesser-known M a d e i n I t a l y v e n t u r e s . Meseuro is an Italian think tank focused on addressing and analyzing the socio-eco- nomic and cultural needs of the European population, with a special emphasis on the southern Mediterranean region. Its activities primari- ly revolve around research, dissemination of studies and publications, and the organi- zation of educational and informational events such as seminars and conferences. In their piece, they discuss t e n s e c t o r s w h e r e I t a l y excels, but that are little dis- cussed in mass media. Let's check them out together and, if you want to practice your Italian some more, you can f i n d t h e o r i g i n a l a r t i c l e at www. meseuro.com. Medical research I t a l i a n s c i e n t i s t s h a v e been actively engaged in can- cer research, focusing on the m o l e c u l a r m e c h a n i s m s underlying cancer develop- ment and progression. Insti- tutions like the National Cancer Institute (Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori) in Milan and the European I n s t i t u t e o f O n c o l o g y achieved groundbreaking discoveries in cancer biology a n d t r e a t m e n t . I t a l y a l s o emerged as a leader in stem cell therapy, with researchers pioneering innovative treat- ments for degenerative dis- orders and autoimmune con- ditions. The San Raffaele S c i e n t i f i c I n s t i t u t e i n Milan stands out for its con- tributions to this particular field. In neuroscience, Italian institutions such as the Ital- ian Institute of Technol- ogy (Istituto Italiano di Tec- nologia) and the University o f M i l a n m a d e n o t a b l e a d v a n c e m e n t s i n u n d e r - standing brain function, neu- rodegenerative diseases, and neural regeneration. T h e c o u n t r y a l s o c o n - tributed to cardiovascular research by developing novel therapies for heart disease and exploring genetic factors influencing cardiovascular h e a l t h . A m o n g t h e m o s t renowned institutions in the field, we find the I R C C S Policlinico San Donato a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Rome Tor Vergata. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f graphene Graphene is a revolution- ary material, considered by many the "material of the future:" among other things, it can be used to manufac- ture fabrics with flame-retar- dant properties and also to p r o d u c e s p o n g e s a b l e t o clean pollutants from the sea. One of its leading pro- ducers in Europe, and the fourth globally, is a company based in Como called Direc- t a P l u s , w h i c h f i l l e d 1 6 patents related to graphene so far. High-tech trains The Italian startup Ales Tech is introducing a signifi- c a n t i n n o v a t i o n i n h i g h - s p e e d r a i l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n with its patented technology IronLev. The system uses magnetic levitation (maglev) to operate but with a unique twist: it is designed to be c o m p a t i b l e w i t h e x i s t i n g steel rail infrastructure. Mag- netic levitation technology is not a new concept and has been employed in projects like Elon Musk's Hyperloop. H o w e v e r , I r o n L e w h a s a unique approach, as it aims to upgrade the existing rail networks, instead of con- structing new infrastructure from scratch, which could significantly lower barriers to the adoption and implemen- t a t i o n o f h i g h - s p e e d r a i l advancements. Robotics Not many know that Italy is the second most important robotics powerhouse in the world, second only to Japan, and ahead of other techno- logical giants like the United S t a t e s , F r a n c e , a n d G e r - many. The country's notable con- tributions come from exclu- sive centers of excellence, such as the Italian Insti- tute of Technology (IIT), which is known for the devel- opment of humanoid robots, including the iCub, a robot d e s i g n e d f o r r e s e a r c h i n human cognition and artifi- cial intelligence; the Walk- man, which specializes in emergency response scenar- i o s ; a n d t h e R 1 r o b o t , intended for domestic assis- tance. Another pillar of Italy's robotics excellence is the Institute of BioRobotics of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, which focuses on robotic prosthet- ics, robotic rehabilitation, a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f exoskeletons for individuals with disabilities. Autonomous vehicles A u t o n o m o u s v e h i c l e s (AVs) have long been a topic of discussion, with Italy mak- ing significant contributions through innovative projects. Among these, Padua start- up Next Future Trans- portation stands out for its unique approach: the compa- ny developed autonomous modular vehicles designed to connect for shared routes, optimizing efficiency and flexibility in transportation. Each of them can transport up to six people. However, they also can operate independently, sepa- rating from the group when necessary to accommodate individual passenger destina- tions. In this context, we should- n't forget Italian-American multinational corporation Fiat Chrysler Automo- biles (FCA), which has been working on autonomous dri- ving technologies through its collaboration with Waymo, Google's autonomous car project. FCA has provided thousands of autonomous vehicles to Waymo, signifi- cantly contributing to the expansion of Waymo's fleet. ... A quick roundup of more Made in Italy suc- cesses Vegan fashion: the Italian fashion industry, known for its impeccable quality and creative designs, is embrac- ing sustainable and ethical practices. Startups like Fera Libens and Vegea are lead- ing the way in producing cru- elty-free and eco-sustainable fashion accessories, includ- ing shoes, bags, and even vegan leather from wine. Smartphone innovation: Rome-based startup Deed, founded by the Parini broth- e r s , i n t r o d u c e d G e t , a bracelet that uses bone con- d u c t i o n t e c h n o l o g y a n d allows users to make calls or send texts by simply touch- ing their ears. Flying cars: Italian inven- tor Pierpaolo Lazzarini is currently testing his IFO (Identified Flying Object) in Dubai. The IFO is a large drone-like vehicle that can carry two passengers and is powered by a battery-operat- ed propeller. Solar energy: the Uni- v e r s i t y o f M i l a n o - Bicocca is pioneering the development of plastic plates embedded with nanoparti- cles capable of converting windows into solar panels: this groundbreaking research could revolutionize energy sources, marking a signifi- cant advancement in alterna- tive energy. Cinema special effects: Italian excellence shines in the cinema industry, too, with companies like Maki- narium (of which we wrote a while back!) gaining inter- national recognition for their innovative special effects, combining digital post-pro- d u c t i o n , 3 D a n i m a t i o n , mechanics, makeup, and tra- ditional techniques. The Made in Italy you don't know: five lesser-known sectors where Italy is a world leader CHIARA D'ALESSIO When it comes to robotics, Italy is second only to Japan in production and innovation (Photo: Kittipong Jirasukhanont/Dreamstime) IMPRESA ITALIA ECONOMIA AFFARI AZIENDE

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